UPDATE (1:19 p.m. Feb. 3): A 28-year-old man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of attempted murder after a shooting in Denver’s Washington Park sent another man to the hospital, police said Monday. Read the latest story here.
The previous story is below:
Shots rang out across Denver’s Washington Park on Sunday afternoon, scattering hundreds of people who had gathered to enjoy the warm day of spring-like weather.
Police officials said the shooting, which is still under investigation, happened around 2 p.m. Sunday in Washington Park in Denver.
Bystanders said shots were fired near the intersection of East Kentucky Avenue and South Downing Street on the west side of the park.
One unidentified victim was shot and taken to the hospital by paramedics, police said. As of 3 p.m., the victim was still alive and expected to survive.
Mariam Alsamar, 25, was walking in the park with her friend to enjoy the nice weather when they heard the first gunshot.
“Everyone just stopped in their tracks,” Alsamar said.
A minute later, a second gunshot sounded. The path was crowded, so the two could barely see what was happening 150 feet ahead, but Alsamar said the shooting started as a fight over a park bench.
A woman on the park path told Alsamar she was a doctor and applied pressure on the wound until paramedics arrived. The woman said that the bullet entered the man’s neck and went out his face, according to Alsamar.
Police said one person is in custody in connection to the shooting. As of Sunday afternoon, the person had not been officially arrested or charged.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
